Helichrysum plant named &#39;Raspberry&#39;

ABSTRACT

A plant variety of the Helichrysum family resulting from a controlled crossing of the unpatented varieties of  Helichrysum bracteatum bracteatum×splendidum  ‘Plum’ and the unpatented variety ‘White’. The new variety named ‘Raspberry’ has blooms of RHS 59 C (red-purple group). The new variety has an erect but compact growth habit, and can be easily forced in pots.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Raspberry’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of theCompositae family. The new variety is named Helichrysumbracteatum×splendidum ‘Raspberry’ by the assignee, Bay City FlowerCompany, Inc. The inventor is Rudolfo Valdoz Bautista of Half Moon Bay,Calif., a citizen of the United States.

This new Helichrysum variety originated as a seedling. It was selectedfrom the progeny of a controlled hybridization conducted by the inventorin a commercial nursery in the city of Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay islocated in San Mateo County, in the state of Calif.

The inventor crossed Helichrysum bracteatum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Plum’the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,742 and the unpatented Helichrysumvariety ‘White’ to produce the new variety. The new variety was selectedfor commercial development because of its unique flower head color andcompact growth habit. The new variety is particularly suitable forcommercial plant culture because of its long-lasting flowers andattractive coloring.

Other desirable characteristics of the new variety are:

-   -   the color of its flower head and bud,    -   its dense foliage and strong stems,    -   its compact growth habit, and    -   its ability to grow well in pots in which it can be sold.

The infloresence is made up of a number of involucral bracts,surrounding a disk head. The bracts are striated with non-pigmentedportions. Generally, the base of the bracts is not pigmented. Thepigmentation pattern is the same for both the abaxial and the adaxialsides of the bracts. The outermost involucral bracts of the bud appearas RHS 62 B (red-purple group). The rest of the bracts have an overallappearance of RHS 58 D (red-purple group). The margins and tips of theupper bracts is RHS 59 C (red-purple group).

The following table compares the new variety to the closest varietiesknown to the inventor, according to the new variety's distinguishingcharacteristics. The variety designated ‘1A93’ is a progeny of a crossbetween Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. and Helichrysum bracteatum(Venten.) Andr. The variety designated ‘Harvest Sun’ is the progeny of across between the variety designated ‘1A93’ and Helichrysum bracteatum(Vent.). Andr. H. bracteatum (general characteristics) H. splendidum‘1A93’ ‘Harvest Sun’ New Variety Bract color Various colors InvolucralR.H.S. 4A Involucral R.H.S 58 D bracts at opening bracts at arepredominantly opening are R.H.S. 12A. predominantly Upper involucralR.H.S. 22A. bracts Upper involucral when flower bracts head is maturewhen flower are predominantly head is mature R.H.S. are predominantly12A. R.H.S. 9A. Bud color Various colors Predominantly R.H.S. 187BR.H.S. 26A R.H.S. 187 D R.H.S. 175A. (greyed-purple group) LeafPuberulent Tomentose puberulent puberulent and puberulent surfaces andsparsely sparsely villous, villous, main main veins are veins arehirsute hirsute Suitability Good Average Good Good Good for pot cultureEase of Generally good Difficult Good Good Good forcing Growth GenerallySpreading Compact Compact Compact habit compact

The distinguishing characteristics are retained by asexually reproduced,successive generations. The inventor, at a commercial nursery in HalfMoon Bay, Calif., has asexually reproduced the new variety through threesuccessive generations by means of cuttings and has found that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show thetypical potted-plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, andbract color development from the bud stage to the mature flower head.The colors are represented as truly as possible using conventionalphotographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a potted plant of the new varietydescribed herein, illustrating the overall form and appearance of theplant in full bloom.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a potted plant of the new variety describedherein, illustrating the overall form and appearance of the plant infull bloom.

FIG. 3 is view of a potted plant of the new variety described herein,illustrating the overall form and appearance of the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 4 is a view of one stem removed from the plant.

FIG. 5 is a view of the underside of two individual flower heads of thenew variety described herein, showing the pigmentation pattern of thebracts. The flower head on the left is quite young.

FIG. 6 is a view of the underside of two individual flower heads of thenew variety described herein, showing the pigmentation pattern of thebracts. The flower head on the right is quite old.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. The newvariety has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. Color designation and other values stated may deviateslightly from the stated values from flowering to flowering, but thedeviations will be within the range expected from varying environmental,seasonal and cultural conditions. Color designations were made accordingto the R.H.S. Color Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Societyof London, England.

The following description is based on observations of optimallyfertilized plants grown outside in 6 inch pots.

Cuttings were taken from mature plants in the summer and placed incells. Plants were transplanted to 6″ pots approximately 4 to 6 weeksafter root initiation occurred.

The observed plants were 20 weeks old.

The plants were grown under glass in Half Moon Bay, Calif., during thewinter and spring months. The day time temperature in the green housewhere the plants were grown was kept between 65 and 73 degreesFahrenheit during the day and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Thehumidity was maintained at 90%.

-   The plant:    -   -   Name.—Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Raspberry’.        -   Origin.—Seedling.        -   Parentage.—Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Plum’ and            unpatented Helichrsyum variety ‘White’.        -   Classification.—Family. — Compositae. Tribe. — Inula. Genus.            — Helichrysum. Species. — Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum.            Commercial. — Strawflower.        -   Form.—Upright, compact, biennial herb.        -   Height.—Plant grown in 6″ pot is 29 cm.        -   Diameter.—Plant grown in 6″ pot is 33 cm.        -   Growth.—Upright, vigorous growth under glass with excellent            branching; easily forced to bloom without growth regulators.        -   Stems.—Texture. — Generally, stems are moderately pubescent            at their base; stems are very sericeous below the flower,            making for a glaucous appearance. Shape. — Stems have a            rectangular cross section below the base of the flower            becoming round at base. Size. — Stem width at top of plant            below the terminal flower head is 5 mm. The stem widens in            one direction to accommodate axilary stems, becoming            approximately 10 mm wide. Where stems meet the original            cutting, the stems are approximately 8 mm to 11 mm wide. The            diameter of the original cutting is 15 mm.        -   Foliage.—Quantity. — Abundant. Shape. — Linear; narrowly            acute; margins are repand. Size. — As large as 16 cm long by            37 mm wide. Texture. — Viscid; main vein dominates on the            underside of leaf and is sunken on the leaf surface.            Pubescence. — Leaf surfaces are puberulent. Color. — Upper            leaf surface is RHS 137A to 137 B (green group); lower leaf            surface is RHS 137C (green group).        -   Disease resistance.—Roots appear to be disease resistant.-   The bud:    -   -   Form.—Conical, with imbricate involucral bracts.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glossy (waxy).        -   Rate of opening.—Slowly, and in layers, closing at night;            fully open in 2-3 weeks.        -   Involucral bracts.—Color. — Outermost involucral bracts are            RHS 167 D (greyed-purple group). Aspect. — Thin, dry,            membranous.-   The inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Flower head is discoid and solitary; usually 1 or 2            buds at the next leaf axis below.        -   Flower head size.—Diameter. — 58 mm. Disc floret portion            diameter: 24-25 mm.        -   Shape of the flower head.—Circular; involucral bracts are            numerous and imbricate.        -   Appearance of the flower head.—Showy.        -   Involucral bracts.—Form. — Involucral bracts are imbricate            in many rows. Involucral bracts are scarious and membranous,            but are brightly colored. The involucral bracts are deltoid,            enlarged and petal-like. Color. — appearance of RHS 58 D            (red-purple group) at maturity.        -   Disc florets.—Form. — Florets are all small, bisexual and            tubular. The corolla of the florets is usually 5-lobed.            Corolla is usually 7- 9 mm long and glaucous (waxy). The            upper 3.5 mm of the corolla is usually brightly colored, RHS            24 A (orange group). Androecium. — There are usually 5            stamens borne on the corolla tube. The stamens, including            the anthers, are usually united into a tube around the style            and become highly reflexed from the point of separation. The            stamens protrude from the corolla. Pollen occurs on the            adaxial surface of the anthers. Gynoecium. — One pistil per            disc floret. The ovary is inferior, and approximately 2 mm            tall. The style is often branched. The style protrudes from            the corolla about 2 to 3 mm. There is a pappus with many            bristles. The bristles are approximately 8 mm long. Color of            the bristles is RHS 10 D (yellow group).        -   Fragrance.—none.        -   Achenes.—The achenes rarely germinate.

1. A new and distinct variety of Helichrysum plant, as illustrated anddescribed.